Mechanical lighter



.Nov. 3, 1953 s. BACHRACH 2,657,562

MECHANICAL LIGHTER Filed Oct. 28, 1949 F|G. 1 FIG.2 F|G.3 FIG.4

IIIIAIAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJ 1m 1T 4 [Mum I 5 I: 1 Ii 77 Iliiiilllllllll. 'IIIIIIA '11 INVENTOR,

SELIK BACHRACH AT TORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE This invention relates to mechanical lighters, and more particularly to a mechanical lighter of the pocket type.

Many cigarette lighters have been proposed and used heretofore, but with very few exceptions, they are all based on the old system including a milled wheel the rough surface of which rubs against a flint; the mechanical or operating portion of such lighters varies, of course, in accordance with the size, shape. or cost thereof. It should be noted, however, that although the only purpose of all this variety of mechanical systems (generally hand-actuated) is to move the small friction wheel, they are costly and complicated, and furthermore they are not always capable of withstanding intensive use.

The exceptions to this general rule are found in some types of lighters wherein the friction wheel system is omitted, the steel and flint members being arranged so as to be operated manually. While this latter system has given good results, such lighters have of course lost their mechanical character through the elimination of the mechanical movable parts by means of which sparks were produced from the flint for lighting the respective wick.

All of the structural and operative details of the known lighters have been taken into consideration in the mechanical lighter of this invention, for the purpose of overcoming the drawbacks and complications thereof and of providing a practical and structurally simple lighter capable not only of being manufactured on a large scale but also individually at a low cost.

The lighter of this invention consists of two main portions constituted by a supporting body the shape of which may vary in accordance with a given design, and a slider portion located within said body, said slider portion being formed by a fuel reservoir provided with a wick-carrying tube. The rubber and flint are arranged so that one is fixed to the supporting body and the other forms a part of the slider portion; thus, with said slider portion having a spring urging same towards the operative position thereof, it will be suflicient to cause same to overcome the tension of said spring by any means, so that on being released it will move with a certain force, whereby the rubber will engage the flint and ignite the wick.

The lighter of this invention comprises a supporting structure in which there is mounted a slider associated with actuating means and constituted by a fuel reservoir and a tube containing a wick projecting from the free end thereof, said slider being urged by a spring with a steel and flint. Either one of these elements forms a part of said slider, while the other is fixed to the supporting structure.

Apart from the above, the invention contemplates other objects, among which is the provision of a mechanical lighter of the slider type, wherein the friction wheel and other parts subject to easy Wear are omitted.

A further object of the invention is to reduce considerably the size of the lighters, without thereby affecting the mechanism thereof.

A further object of the invention is to simplify the operating mechanism of the lighter and also to eliminate the failures caused by the wearing of the flint or the rubber.

A further object is to provide a mechanical lighter wherein either the flint or the rubber is fixed relative to the slider.

A still further object is to provide a lighter of the aforesaid type capable of being held with one hand and operated by the simple movement of one of the fingers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description. In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into practice, same has been illustrated, by way of example and in some of the preferred embodiments, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the present invention wherein the slider is housed in a supporting structure which constitutes the barrel of a writing instrument having a writing tip which forms a part of the slider, the slider'including hand actuating and locking means for coactio-n with the Writing tip.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the form of the invention shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a modified form of the invention, with parts broken away and in section, but showing a modified hand actuating and locking means.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the form of the invention shown in Figure 3.

' The same reference characters are used to indicate like or corresponding parts or elements throughout the drawings.

With reference to the drawings, the mechanical lighter of this invention comprises a supporting structure a in which there is mounted a slider b associated with an actuating device 0 and urged towards the operative position by resilient means (2. The slider b is also associated with an ignition system e, one of the elements of which fixed to the structure a, while the other element thereof forms a part of the slider b.

The supporting structure a comprises a tubular body I, which may be made of any suitable material, and the slider b is housed within the cavity or bore of the body I and includes a fuel reservoir 3. Preferably, the reservoir 3 is tubular shaped and includes at one end a filling opening which is adapted to be sealed by a cover 4 which may be arranged in threaded-engagement therewith.

The end of the reservoir 3 opposite the cover 4 has a tube 5 opening into the reservoir, and the tube 5 may be made of any suitable material and carries therein a wick 6 the end of which extends out of the tapered end 5' of "the-tube 5. The tube 5 is so arranged thatfduring the strokes of the slider b, the tube will traverse the ignition system e and one of the elements of the'ignition system is secured to the tube 5 while the other element-therecf is secured tc the body t. These two -eleh1ents include a steel and a flint, or :in

"other words an abrading element -'1 and a hint. The flint is mounted in a supportingbody which includes the case II, and the case "II carries a 'f'lint holding body which may be arranged threaded engagement with the threaded portion 2 of thebody i. "When the abrading element I is rubbed against the flint, a ser ies of sparks will be produced which will contact the wick *6 to ignite same.

The slider 19 is-cperativeiy connected with :"the resilient means d and *the resilient means at inolude's an expansion spring 22 which has-oneend bearing against the seat 61 the body I, while the other end of the spring is arranged in enfg'a''g't-imer'it with the 'cover'4 on the base of the reservoir-3. The spring 22 -i's urging the "slider b towards its operative position as-shown in :the

be overcome in the spring in order to displace the-"slider'to'wards the inoperative position there- :of in order to contract the spring 22.

slider b '-'includes an aciui'atin'g device 0 whichembodiesa-clip"I I Inorderto cover and protect the wick =6, there is provided 'a' cover f which includes a c'ap-=2-8 that maybe'made of an suitabie material and which is adaptedxto'be seat d with a snug or tight nt on an annular shoulder-'2 8" that isarranged-on the upper portion o'fcase H. In use, after the cover f has been removed, the clip H i's moveddownwardsin folder to compress the spring 22 then when 'the clip II is released, the action of thespring 222 will rapidly cause movement of "the slider o, and this sudden displacement will cause the abrading element I to rub against the flint to thlISDlOdlICE sparks which will ignite the wick-6. The parts will again remain inneutral-or normal position so that the wick "6 extends out of the supporting into a taperedportion6'4 having a central passage 65the lower end or which terminates iii-atnnoutli 56. whereas the upper end thereof, due to the 'v;lrawings, and 'tl-ierefore suflic-ient pressure must no difference in diameter-with respect'to the inner I 'surfa'ceof body i, rm-ms a-seat 61 for spring 22 4 which in this case is longer and surrounds a writing element h. This writing element h may be constituted by a tubular ink reservoir 63 provided with an active tip 69 of the ball, nib or any other type, slidably located in said central passage 65.

The end of reservoir 88 opposite said active tip 69 is arranged in a tubular amount It fixed to the cover 4 of fuel reservoir 3 forming part of sliderb. Thus, the writing element It also forms a part of said slider b and is slidable therewith.

The ignition system c is located at the upper end I" of the body I and is traversed by the tube 5 which carries the wick 6 and abrading element .1, as described above. The means for actuating thesl'iderl) comprises a clip II, which is associated with a washer I2 fixed to fuel reservoir 3 by means of a pin I3 displaceable in a slot I4.

Said slot I4 has a straight vertical section I5, the lower end of which extends into a smaller portion 1-6 curved into U-shape and the end of which is parallel ;to the straight section -15. By this arrangement, said slot I4 provides a guide "for 'th'eoperation-of the lighter and also @a-means for locking the writing .instru'mentin operative position. In eflfe'ct, sincein this casethe slider b is normally in operativepositiomit will-begnecessary to retract sam'e temporarily so that @upon being released it will cause the ignition of .the Wick 6 in this ."case the clip :II is moved -:to the end of thestrai'ght section 1570f slot 7 4 so as to retract -the slider b and simultaneously the contraction of spring .22. Then, by quickly releasing said clip II, thlswill release thesliderwhich, pressed by said spring'22, onipassing throughlthe ignition system c willrpresentits lighted "wick16.

When it .is desired'to use-only the-writing instrument h, the projecting jportionof the lighter (W'i ck syand 5'andrubberl) may-be covered-by means of a cap fsuch as that shown :1. The clip II will .then'be .moved so that the pin 13 thereof will beheld in the :e'nd-oi the slot .portion "I6, -due eto the action :of spring 22 which will be partly contracted as clearly shown in Z2; the activeztip :69 of ,the writing instrument It will thus extend out of saidbody -I through the mouth 6:6.theredf.

Whenever; it is desiredto ioring the writing; instrument h oback into inoperative .Tpositiomthe clip 11 should lb'e :moved back to the position indicated in Fig. 1.

The embodhnent shown in Figures 13 :and 4 :;is almost-similar to that shown in Figures 1 {and 2, the only 'd-ifferencefresiding in=theactuating means C.

lnthiscembodiment, the-clip I I also {includes a .pin 'I-3 guided in: a straight slot II, the dice end of said .clip :I I ibeing provided with a dockin tooth L8 capableof engaging'ahole .79 formedin the body I.

Theoperation-of :thisdevice is very simple. In iorderit'o .use the lighter, it iwillbe sufiicient to vmovethe clip H downwards practically for the entirelengtheof said slot l'L- andthen releaseit so .as -.to-cause thesignition of wick/Gas already explainedabove. When it is desired to use the writing instrument h, the clip II should be dis- .placed thefloc'k'in'g tooth I8 thereof engages said hole 19 .(Figure .3).

The retracted position of instrument'h isobtained by aslight outward movement of clip 'II, whereupon .the locking tooth 1.8 will be released from said hole I9.

It is evidentthat incarrying out thisdnvenation, several changes, modifications and/for alterations will occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention as clearly set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a mechanical lighter, a hollow supporting body having one end terminating in a tapered portion, said tapered portion being provided with a central passageway terminating in a mouth, a seat arranged interiorly of said tapered portion and spaced from said mouth, a spring positioned in said body and having one end abutting a shoulder, an elongated element extending longitudinally through said spring, a slider reciprocally arranged in said body and defining a fuel holding reservoir, a cover connected to an end of said slider, a tubular mount extending from said cover and projecting into said coil spring, an ignition system including a wick and a rubbing element arranged in the upper end of said body, and manually operable means for actuating said slider, said means comprising a clip arranged exteriorly of said body, there being a slot arranged in said body, a washer circumposed on said slider and secured thereto, and a pin extending through said slot and having one end secured to said slider and the other end secured to said clip.

2. In a mechanical lighter, a hollow supporting body having one end terminating in a tapered portion, said tapered portion being provided with a central passageway terminating in a mouth, a seat arranged interiorly of said tapered portion and spaced from said mouth, a spring positioned in said body and having one end abutting a shoulder, an elongated element extending longitudinally through said spring, a slider reciprocally arranged in said body and defining a fuel holding reservoir, a cover connected to an end of said slider, a tubular mount extending from said cover and projecting into said coil spring, an ignition system including a wick and a rubbing element arranged in the upper end of said body, and manually operable means for actuating said slider, said means comprising a clip arranged exteriorly of said body, there being a slot arranged in said body, a washer circumposed on said slider and secured thereto, and a pin extending through said slot and having one end secured to said slider and the other end secured to said clip, said slot including a straight section terminating in a U-shaped portion, the end of the U-shaped portion of said slot being arranged in spaced parallel relation with said straight section.

3. In a mechanical lighter, a hollow supporting body having one end terminating in a tapered portion, said tapered portion being provided with a central passageway terminating in a mouth, a seat arranged interiorly of said tapered portion and spaced from said mouth, a spring positioned in said body and having one end abutting a shoulder, an elongated element extending longitudinally through said spring, a slider reciprocally arranged in said body and defining a fuel holding reservoir, a cover connected to an end of said slider, a tubular mount extending from said cover and projecting into said coil spring, an ignition system including a wick and a rubbing element arranged in the upper end of said body, and manually operable means for actuating said slider, said means comprising a clip arranged exteriorly of said body, there being a slot arranged in said body, a washer circumposed on said slider and secured thereto, and a pin extending through said slot and having one end secured to said slider and the other end secured to said clip, said slot including a straight section terminating in a U-shaped portion, the end of the U-shaped portion of said slot being arranged in spaced parallel relation with said straight section, the end of the U-shaped portion of the slot being of less length than the straight section of said slot.

4. In a mechanical lighter, a hollow supporting body having one end terminating in a tapered portion, said tapered portion being provided with a central passageway terminating in a mouth, a seat arranged interiorly of said tapered portion and spaced from said mouth, a spring positioned in said body and having one end abutting a shoulder, an elongated element extending longitudinally through said spring, a slider reciprocally arranged in said body and defining a fuel holding reservoir, a cover connected to an end of said slider, a tubular mount extending from said cover and projecting into said coil spring, an ignition system including a wick and a rubbing element arranged in the upper end of said body, and manually operable means for actuating said slider, said means comprising a clip arranged exteriorly of said body, there being a slot arranged in said body, a washer circumposed on said slider and secured thereto, and a pin extending through said slot and having one end secured to said slider and the other end secured to said clip, said slot including a straight section terminating in a U-shaped portion, the end of the U-shaped portion of said slot being arranged in spaced parallel relation with said straight section, the end of the U-shaped portion of the slot being of less length than the straight section of said slot, said slot providing a guide for said pin, the last-named end of the slot providing a seat for the pin when the clip is to be locked in place.

5. The mechanical lighter as defined in claim 1 and further including a cap for selectively covering said wick.

SELIK BACHRACH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,034,617 Herzog Aug. 6, 1912 1,910,370 Steinfeld May 23, 1933 2,244,563 Mansfield June 3, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 326,235 Germany Sept. 25, 1920 374,734 Germany Apr. 27, 1923 

